The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has reiterated the Nigerian Army’s firm commitment to an adaptive, intelligence-driven and technology-enabled strategy to counter asymmetric threats to Nigeria’s national security.
Lieutenant General Shaibu made the declaration on Tuesday while delivering a strategic lecture titled “Combating Asymmetric Threats to National Security in Nigeria: The Nigerian Army in Perspective” to participants of the National Defence College (NDC), Nigeria, Course 34.
The COAS noted that the global security landscape has significantly evolved from conventional, state-centric warfare to complex intra-state conflicts dominated by non-state actors such as terrorists, insurgents, bandits, cybercriminals and transnational organised crime networks. He observed that these actors exploit governance gaps, societal vulnerabilities and emerging technologies to undermine state authority.
In response, the Nigerian Army has recalibrated its operational doctrine, force posture and employment of capabilities through a comprehensive multi-domain strategy. According to him, this approach combines decisive kinetic operations with intelligence fusion, inter-agency collaboration, joint operations with sister services and sustained international partnerships.
“Asymmetric threats thrive on adaptability, anonymity and deliberate attacks on civilians to erode public confidence and state authority. Our response must therefore be equally adaptive, proactive, intelligence-led and collaborative,” the COAS stated.
Lieutenant General Shaibu explained that Army operations across the country are tailored to specific threat environments. In the North-East, sustained counter-insurgency operations have continued to degrade terrorist capabilities through offensive manoeuvres, intelligence-driven strikes and population-centric stabilisation efforts.
In the North-West, he said joint operations have intensified pressure on bandit groups, disrupted their logistics and financing networks, and enhanced the protection of vulnerable communities. Meanwhile, stabilisation operations in the North-Central region have focused on area domination, civilian protection and the containment of communal and militia-related violence.
The COAS also highlighted the role of advanced technologies, enhanced training and increased jointness with sister services in improving situational awareness, operational reach and overall mission effectiveness. He stressed that modern national security goes beyond territorial defence to include economic security, cyber resilience, environmental stability and human security.
According to him, lasting peace can only be achieved when military efforts are complemented by effective governance, justice delivery and inclusive socio-economic development.
Lieutenant General Shaibu urged participants of NDC Course 34, whom he described as Nigeria’s future strategic leaders, to adopt integrated and forward-looking security frameworks that address both the symptoms and root causes of conflict.
He assured Nigerians of the Nigerian Army’s unwavering resolve to defend national sovereignty, protect lives and property, and secure critical national infrastructure amid evolving security challenges.
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